Johnstone Burgh manager Stevie Farrell praised his players’ response after they earned a 1-1 draw against Celtic B at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.
Burgh fell behind in the 2nd minute when Francis Turley scored for the home side, but Stuart Faulds levelled in the 36th minute.
Aaron Mason was sent off in the 79th minute, leaving Burgh to defend with 10 men during the closing stages.
Farrell said the match showed him another side of his squad.
He said: “I’m delighted with it. We’ve only been together for six weeks and I said that to the players at half-time and again at full-time.
“When you come into a new club with new players and a new group, you’re always finding out about them as individuals and as a collective.
“Today I found out something different about them. It was their reaction to losing a goal so early.”
Farrell said Celtic B caused Burgh problems after taking the lead, but he was pleased with how his side recovered.
He said: “We had a spell after that, probably 10 or 15 minutes, where we just couldn’t get our press right.
“We had to dig in and get through that period, and there are going to be games this season where you’ll have to do that.
“Once we came through it, I thought we finished the first half strongly. We scored a really, really good goal and I liked the way we ended the half.”
Burgh created chances after the break before Mason was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Farrell said his players then had to show a different part of their game.
He said: “Once Aaron was sent off, you’ve got to do another part of the game.
“You’re down to 10 men and you’ve got to defend your box. You’ve got to defend that central area of the pitch, invite them wide and then try to stop crosses coming into the box.
“I thought we did that magnificently well, so I’m really, really proud of them. It’s a really valuable point, whoever you’re playing.”
Farrell also thanked the Johnstone Burgh supporters who travelled to Airdrie.
He said: “It was good to experience an away fixture today with them right behind us.
“Particularly when the lads went down to 10 men, I thought they gave them everything.
“You could hear them encouraging and supporting the players throughout.
“I’m sure they’ll go home having seen their team fight the way they did in the second half after going down to 10 men. I’m sure they’ll be really proud of them as well.”
Johnstone Burgh remain eighth in the Lowland League West table with four points from two matches.
They return to Keanie Park to face Albion Rovers on Saturday, 8th August, with kick-off at 3pm.